Activities at Dovedale Court Care Home
We understand that the people we support have passions and interests that could be difficult to pursue after moving into a care home – but that doesn’t mean we don’t encourage them to try! Some hobbies can define a person, so our Activities Coordinators are dedicated to ensuring that everyone we support is able to do what makes them happy to the best of their abilities. Social events are organised with individual tastes in mind and with the idea that residents have the opportunity to try new and exciting things.
Brian Sandham
My name is Brian, I’m the activities coordinator down here at Dovedale. I’m new to the care sector, I’ve been a photographer and photography tutor since 2004 dealing with different ages groups and abilities. I’m looking forward to putting my people skills to good use down here at Dovedale.
I might be new to the care sector but I’m super looking forward to spreading a bit of extra sunshine and cheer around the home.
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Dovedale Court Care Home
V E Celebrations
Residents at marked the anniversary of VE Day in style by throwing a ratio book tasting session to remember the foods available at the time, the spread was especially prepared by the homes hospitality team. The home was specially decorated for the occasion with flags and bunting.
Our residents listened to wartime tunes, reminisced about their memories of VE Day and watched clips of the celebrations that took place outside Buckingham Palace and all across London and looked back to the day with a VE day activity book and quiz.
It was a fabulous day, enjoyed by all.
National Doughnut Week
As part of National Doughnut Week we got involved in a variety of activities in support of the Children’s Trust, the leading charity for children with brain injuries and neurodisabilities.
Our residents participated in a tasting session and had fun decorating doughnuts.
All in all, the week was a great success, we managed to raise funds for the children and to enjoy some very yummy doughnuts.
Conversations by the Pond
We had a lovely time joining Henry Slator for an exciting virtual event to discuss his book ‘Conversations at the Pond’.
Henry had an unusual writing journey, which many of our residents found inspiring, he underwent chemotherapy in early 2020, which allowed him to rediscover his light-hearted outlook on life by imagining conversations with creatures in and around his large garden pond and adding buckets of fun.
The entertaining Conversations at the Pond, with its mass of colourful illustrations, took our residents along his journey, they felt inspired, cheered and loved hearing all about Henry’s experiences.
Bubble tennis superstars
Our residents enjoyed a thrilling, competitive afternoon of bubble tennis. We used mini racquets and swappers to pop as many balloons as possible. It was a competitive, active afternoon for all involved and we all celebrated with a cup of tea and biscuits afterwards.
Games afternoon
Today our residents enjoyed a challenging game of hoops. The aim of the game – get the right hoop on the right cone (it’s much harder than it looks!) We thoroughly enjoyed this game and had lots of fun laughing at everyone’s *failed*attempts!
The Astor's at Cliveden
Our residents came together to enjoy an exciting virtual talk courtesy of the team at National Trust Talks Service. The illustrated talk took us closer to one of Cliveden’s most famous families, the Astors. Our residents were able to discover what motivated William Waldorf Astor, America’s richest man, to purchase Cliveden in 1893 and how the estate became the centre of high society in the 1920 s and 30 s thanks to his son Waldorf and daughter in law Nancy Astor.
The Astors time at Cliveden came to an end in the 1960 s after the estate became infamously associated with Profumo Affair, but the house and garden continue to reflect their innovations and passions. We all had a brilliant time.
